Page 25 of Seeking Salvation

“I’ve heard so much about you, Maya.” Charlie went straight in for a hug and Maya patted her back somewhat awkwardly, making Charlie laugh.

“It’s fine. I was like you, not a fan of hugs but when you’re around this lot enough, you learn to love them.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”

“I’m Bein.” The tattooed Scot stepped forward and offered his hand, as Maya took it with a warm smile.

“Another nickname?”

“Yeah, but you can call me Bram if you want.”

“Bein is fine.”

Maya’s eyes skimmed over to Hurricane who was hovering by the cupboard with the biscuits.

“That’s Hurricane. The big guy is always hungry, so excuse him if he goes for food before manners.”

“Hi, Hurricane.”

Hurricane turned to her with a wide grin. “Nice to meet you, Maya. You want anything?”

She shook her head. “I’m good with the custard creams, thanks.”

Bás barrelled in next with Val and a pissed-off-looking Watchdog behind him. Titan eyed him but Bás shook his head, saying to leave it.

“Okay, everyone, let’s get started.”

The team seated themselves with Watchdog taking up position in the corner of the conference room away from the rest of them but near the door. Titan pulled out the chair beside himself for Maya and she took it, giving him a slightly nervous smile.

The conference room was smaller than the war room they’d usually use to plan something like this but it was good enough. It had plain magnolia-coloured walls, a grey tile carpet, and a long wooden table with metal legs and matching chairs. It was functional, which was exactly the purpose. The equipment around the outside of the room included monitors and the latest tracking equipment, although he wasn’t sure any tracker would be better than Monty and Scout, Valentina’s search and rescue dogs.

He hadn’t considered himself a dog person until he’d met those furry beasts and they’d stolen his heart, along with his bacon sandwich.

“Maya, last night Watchdog and I went over all the information you gave us, and it seems that the men who own the club are indeed forcing the girls into sex with paid clients. Whether Rose found out or not we might never know but the men also own the nail salon where she was working.”

Titan glanced at Maya for her reaction and she was nodding as if it made sense, but he could see she was still shaken, if not shocked by this news.

“We also found out Rose wasn’t the only person to die who had links to the club.”

Bás nodded at Watchdog and the screens flickered to life and the images of three young women and two young men came on the screen.

“Over the last two years, these five people have died, either due to apparent suicide or under suspicious circumstances. All of them except this one had recent surgical incisions on their bodies at the time of death.”

“What did the autopsies say?” Titan asked, sitting forward as he rested his arms on the table.

“Nothing. For some unexplained reason, none were carried out.”

Titan nodded not surprised by that, but Maya gasped. “How is that possible? These were young, healthy people like Rose.”

“Rose didn’t have one either.”

Maya frowned. “She must have. The Police told me she had one and her death was ruled as a suicide with death from exsanguination.”

“Well, they lied. Most likely someone was paid off.”

“Bastards.”

Titan felt his eyes go wide as she swore. “Maya, please, the baby.”

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